NEW YORK — Eveningwear, lingerie and contemporary tailored design were the hottest looks at The Fashion Institute of Technology’s recent annual awards event.
Two hundred students, juniors and seniors from FIT’s Fine Arts Fashion Design program, sent their wares out on the runway under the tutelage of their professors and designer critics and won raves from an enthusiastic audience. Award winners were selected by individual designer critics.
Lingerie winner Nirvana Fahmy created an illusion and lace bodysuit with beaded macrame pants and a matching velvet robe. Her critic, Flora Nikrooz said: “It was difficult to choose among all the talented students, but Nirvana had a certain level of professionalism about her work that I admired and that’s why I chose her.”
Each of the show’s seven segments had its own feel. Sportswear Design I had a men’s wear edge with glen plaid and pinstripe looks, while Sportswear II looked futuristic with vinyl, leather and mohair looks in brights or black.
The Contemporary Tailored Design segment featured beautiful mohair, melton and chenille coats that topped chenille separates of velvet or silver dresses. Award winner Masataka Suemitsu showed a cognac cropped leather jacket over a matching lace-up suede vest and mermaid skirt.
The Design Studio, or evening segment, packed the most punch, as 21 students presented elaborate, yet elegant black gowns featuring overskirts in brocade, organza or striped silk and pretty velvet looks with jet beads or tulle skirts. Winner Kathleen Cajas made an Empire gown with a flared fan skirt with pleating.
Other design winners included: Zhifeng Zheng for Sportswear I, Dena Brooks for Sportswear Design II, Sunny Cannon for Children’s Wear and Dorothy Antoine for Current Scene.
Design critic Steve Blatt for Searle summed up his experience with his class, telling the audience, “Everytime I came to visit it was a lot of fun and a lot of frustration, just like Seventh Avenue.”